Latch for drop-side cribs



June 21, 1949. 'g-i sH w 1 2,473,914

' LATCH FOR DROP-SIDE cams Filed 'Feb. 24,1945

ik- E Inveni/ or: HaroZdFShqw Patented June 21, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LATCH FUR DROP-SIDE CRIBS Harold F. Shaw, Leominster, Mass, assignor to F. A. Whitney Carriage Company, Leominster, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 24, 1945, Serial No. 579,614 f 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to drop-side cribs and the object is to provide an improved construction wherein the drop side is easily manipulated but securely held, the construction being simple, inexpensive and neat.

My invention will be well understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings WhereinI have shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention by way of example and wherein- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one corner of a drop-side crib with the side in lowered position:

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the end portion of the top rail of the side;

Fig. 3 is an elevation thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the parts in another position.

Fig. 1 shows one corner of a crib having an end member |n having a post l2 between which and its counterpart at the other end of the crib is received the drop side 14. On the posts I2 is mounted a vertical slideway herein shown as consisting of a rod [6 in spaced relation to the post and passing through holes 18 in the top and bottom rails of the side. The construction as so far described and illustrated is conventional. In Fig. 1 the side is shown in lowered position. The bed bottom, spring, mattress, etc., are omitted.

The end portions of the top rail 20 of the side at either end thereof (one only being illustrated) are provided with latches of a form to be described. I have herein shown a notch 22 near the upper end of the rod providing an upwardly facing shoulder to be engaged by the latch to support the side in raised position. Herein the notches are on the sides of the rods which face toward the opposite end of the crib. While the side l4 in its lowered position may rest as usual on the bottom arm of the slideway, I prefer to provide a notch which will be engaged by the latch in the lower position of the side to rigidify the structure.

The latch shown in the drawing comprises a plate 24 opposing the under side of the top rail and having ears 26 extending therefrom at either side of the rail by means of which it is pivoted thereto as by means of the screws 28. A spring 30 herein shown as riveted to the upper side of the plate between the ears engages the opposed surface of the rail and normally tilts the plate to the angular position shown in Fig. 3. The plate at one side of the center, the left viewing Figs. 2, 3 and 4, comprises a nose portion 32 to engage the shoulder on the slideway rod, while at the other side of center there is provided a tail portion 34 which may be engaged by the fingers when the top rail is grasped to tilt the plate against the force of the spring from the position of Fig. 3 to the position of Fig. 4.

In the position of Fig. 3 the nose 32 intersects the aperture [8 in the rail and enters the notch 22 so that the weight of the side l4 jams the nose between the rail 20 and the downwardly facing shoulder of the notch, the rod being backed up at the right, viewing Fig. 3, by engagement with the margin of the hole. If, however, the rail is grasped and the tail portions 3d of the latches at the respective ends thereof pressed upwardly, conveniently with a slight upward movement of the side as a whole, they may be swung to the position of Fig. 4 with the nose portion moved out of alignment with the aperture and free from the notch and the side may then be lowered or raised as the case may be. With the latch in the position of Fig. 4, it will slide along the side of the rod until the nose portion comes opposite the notch 22 when it will automatically snap into the same.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, as is in fact clear in several matters from the description itself. Reference is to be had to the appended claims to indicate those principles of the invention exemplified by the particular embodiment described and which I desire to secure by Letters Patent.

I claim:

1. In a crib comprising end members supporting vertical guide rods and a drop side arranged between them having top and bottom rails provided with apertures to pass said rods for vertical movement of the side along the same, the rods presenting horizontal shoulders, latches at the ends of the top rail, each comprising a plate underlying the rail, pivoted on a, horizontal axis, spring pressed to a normal position inclined to the rail and having a nose portion which then intersects the aperture and is adapted to underlie a shoulder, the plate having a tail portion by pressure on which it may be swung against the spring to free said nose portion from the rod.

2. In a crib comprising end members supporting vertical guide rods and a drop side arranged between them having top and bottom rails provided with apertures to pass said rods for vertical movement of the side along the same, the rods presenting horizontal shoulders, latches at the ends of the top rail, each comprising a plate underlying the same having ears overlying the sides thereof and pivoted thereto, the plate hav- 5 upwardly to intersect the aperture and engage 10 above the shoulder, the latch being retractiblee from said position to free the sideby, operation of its tail portion against the spring:

3. In a crib comprising endzmenrbers supporting vertical guide rods and iardzopssidearranged:

between them having top and bottomrrailsrpro vided with apertures to passeisaidrodstforrvertical movement of the side -along'the'same; the rods presenting horizontal shoulders, latcheswat;

the ends of the top rail iimounted to swing on a 20 Number horizontal. axis. transverse-tot thee planet of .v the, drop side, and.-. spaced: from the rod; and; each; having anaengagingt. portionrrremotei from'iitstaxis-s and a spring yieldably pressing the latch about its axis to a position interposed between said shoulder and the margin of the aperture to jam between the same and having a finger engageable portion for swinging it away from said position to release the side.

HAROLD F. SHAW.

REFERENCES" CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number. Name Date 1,179,685- Vallone Apr. 18, 1916 1,231,675 Vallone July 3, 1917 1,275,762 Safford; Aug. 13, 1918 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date 164,195 GreatiBritain .5 June: 9 1921 839,516 France Jan.-. 4-,'= 1939--- 

